Cutting mechanism



1962 J. P. RUSSELL ETAL 3,

CUTTING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 19, 1960 1 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 gnu IN V EN TORS JAY/M P4UL #088111 G #0656? 55 AME-S, JR.

ATTORIYL') J. P. RUSSELL ETAL 3,058,438

Oct. 16, 1962 CUTTING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS JAVA/V PAUL RUSSELL 6 BY IIOBL'AI' L66 L/LES, JR.

Filed Dec. 19, 1960 1962 J. P. RUSSELL ETAL 3,058,438

CUTTING MECHANISM Filed. Dec. 19, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS JAVA/V PAUL RUSSELL 6 ROBERT LEE L/LfiS, .TR.

arm/Puck 3,058,438 CUTTING MECHANEM Javan Paul Russell, Troy, and Robert Lee Liies, Jia,

Cander, N.C., assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, to Frank D. De Long, Jr., High Point, N.C.

Filed Dec. 19, 196i), Ser. No. 76,660 5 Claims. (Cl. 112252) The present invention relates to a cutting mechanism, and more particularly to a mechanism for cutting material by drawing a length of the material by suction to a cutting blade.

The present invention is adaptable to use with sewing machines for cutting the seaming stitch chain as the seamed articles leave the sewing needles. It is particularly useful for cutting the connecting chain between articles being seamed one after the other. By way of example, in the seaming of toe openings of circular knit hosiery the hose in a bundle are fed continuously through the sewing machine with the seaming stitch chain extending from hose to hose and thereby connecting the hose or other articles together. To separate the hose, it is normally necessary for the operator to gather the seamed hose or other articles, locate the seaming stitch chains between articles, and cut the chains to separate said articles. This gathering and cutting operation is time consuming and therefore relatively expensive. In addition, this hand cutting of the seaming stitch chains result in a non-uniform chain length as it is difiicult for the opera tor to consistently cut chains of equal length. Further, operators tend to make the seaming stitch chains between hose or other articles of considerable length to facilitate subsequent handling of the chain for cutting.

The above disadvantages are overcome by the cutting mechanism of the present invention which automatically cuts the material, such as a seaming stitch chain as it leaves the sewing needles or otherwise passes over the cutting mechanism. In the present invention a suction chamber is provided into which the material is drawn by suction and in which cutting means are located to sever the material that has been drawn into the chamber.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cutting mechanism is mounted on a sewing machine to the rear of the sewing needle or needles. The suction chamber extends from an opening adjacent the needles to an air line that is connected to a suction pump or similar device that creates a suction in the chamber sufficient to draw the portions of seaming stitch chains that are not stitched in the articles being sewn into the chamber. A cutting blade is positioned for reciprocation across the suction chamber at a point spaced from the opening to cut the material that is drawn into the chamber beyond the cutting blade.

This automatic cutting of seaming stitch chains eliminates any additional or special handling by the operator. Particularly, hand collection, arrangement of the hose or other articles and clipping of the chains is eliminated with a resulting substantial increase in production and corresponding economy. In one application of the present invention to seaming of socks, the production rate of the operator was increased ahnost 100% by the use of the present invention.

In addition, as the operator does not have to handle the hose there is no need or advantage in having a long seaming stitch and therefore the operator can reduce the ice length of the chain between hose with a substantial saving in seaming thread as well as operating time. It is possible by using the present invention to save up to approximately 20% in the amount of seaming thread required, which not only reduces the amount and cost of thread, but also accordingly reduces the production time.

Further, the automatic operation and fixed location of the cutting mechanism of the present invention provides a substantially uniform length of chain remaining on the sewn articles, and the location of the mechanism can be varied to adjust the cut length to an optimum. This substantial uniformity of chain length is obtained regardless of considerable variations in the amount of suction pulling on the chain as long as sufficient suction is present to pull the chain into the chamber.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the mechanism includes a suction duct extension of the air chamber mounted on top of the mechanism and extending forwardly with an opening adjacent the needle or needles. The opening extends upwardly in the path of the articles so that the articles must pass over the opening to insure pulling-in of the chains, and the opening end of the duct is inclined to permit the articles to pass freely during continuous feeding of articles through the machine. This suction duct also contributes to automatic control of the length of chain left on the articles as the length of chain will be determined by the distance from the duct opening to the cutting blade.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the suction of the mechanism pulls the chains from the chaining finger and needle plate into the suction chamber, thereby clearing the chain from the needles and other parts and preventing fouling of the chain in the needles, which can occur in operation of conventional machines causing entanglement of the chain in the sock seam and undesirable and costly stoppage of the operation.

Other and further features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the needle end of a conventional sewing machine to which the preferred embodiment of the cutting mechanism of the present invention is attached;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational View of the sewing machine of FIG. 1 and includes a diagrammatic illustration of the cutting blade drive mechanism and suction pump mechanism of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational View of the needle and of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of a portion of the seaming machine of FIG. 2, taken along line 44 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional 'view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

The sewing machine 10 illustrated in the drawings is a conventional machine made by The Merrow Machine Company, Hartford, Connecticut, and identified as Model No. M4D60. It is a two needle sewing machine that is adapted to close the toes of seamless socks. The elements and operation of this machine 10 have not been changed in attaching the cutting mechanism 12 of the present invention thereto, except to modify the shape of the supporting platform 14 to which the cutting mechanism 12 is attached and to modify slightly the dimensions of other non-operating elements to accommodate the present mechanism.

The sewing machine illustrated includes a reciprocating needle mounting 16 from which two needles 18 extend. These needles 18 move up and down in an armate path between a needle plate 20 and a chaining finger 22 that extends from the needle plate 20. A presser foot 24 mounted on the end of a pivoted presser foot arm 26 is positioned above the needle plate 20 and is operable to hold the sock down on the needle plate 20 during sewing. Feed dogs 28 positioned in the plane of the needle plate 20 reciprocate and engage the socks during the rearward stroke to feed the socks through the sewing operation. Cutting blades 30 are mounted in advance of the needles 18 to cut the excess fabric from the socks along the openings to be sewn. A work plate 32 is pivotally mounted on the supporting platform 14 to swing into a position along the front end and side of the needle plate 20 to support and guide the socks as they are fed through the seaming machine 10.

In operation, the work plate 32 and presser foot 24 are swung from the open positions illustrated in FIG. 1 to operating positions adjacent and above the needle plate respectively. Individual socks are positioned on the work plate 32 in advance of the needles 18 with the sides of the opening positioned together in line with the needles 1-8. The sock is then advanced under the presser foot 24 until the feed dogs 28 engage the fabric and pull the sock past the cutting blades 39 and under the needles 18, which scam the opening closed. The machine 10 continues to form a chain 34 after the sock has passed to form a continuous chain between socks.

The above described sewing machine it} and operation are conventional and do not constitute a part of this invention except to describe the environment of the pre ferred embodiment of the present invention.

The cutting mechanism 12 of the present invention includes a body member 13 mounted on the work plate supporting platform 14- of the above described conventional sewing machine 16 and extending from a front end 36 directly behind the needle plate 26 to a rear end 38 at the rear of the machine 10.

The body member 13 comprises a base plate 40 and a top plate 42 with the base plate 48 having a cutter blade channel 44 extending rearwardly along its top surface 46 and an air passage 48 extending from the side 50 of the base plate 40 to the bottom of the channel 44 near the front end 36 of the mechanism 10. The air passage 48 communicates with a connector 52 to which an air hose 54 is connected for creating a suction by a suction pump 56 or other means.

The top plate 42 is mounted on the top of the base plate 40 and closes the cutter blade channel 44 in the base plate 40 to form therewith a cutter blade slot. The top plate 42 is also formed with an air passage 58 aligned with the cutter blade channel 44 of the base plate 40 and aligned with the opening of the air passage 48 of the base plate 40. The air passage 58 in the top plate 42 extends to the top surface 60 of the top plate 42 and communicates with a suction duct 62 mounted on the top of plate 42 and extending to the front end of the top plate with an opening 64 at the front end through which the seaming stitch chain 34 is drawn as it leaves the needle plate 20.

The suction duct 62, being on top of the top plate 42, is in the plane of 'the path of the articles leaving the needles 18 and the air duct opening 64 is located directly in the path of the articles so that the articles and connecting chains must pass over the opening and the chains 34 will be caught by suction and drawn into the air duct 62 and air passages 48 and 58 of the top and base plates 42, 40, which constitute a suction chamber to draw the chains 34 to the cutting means that will be described below. As seen in FIG. 5, the opening 64 of the air duct 62 is inclined to facilitate movement of the articles over the duct and away. The air duct open'mg 64 may be of any convenient size to permit entry of the chains and prevent entry of the articles themselves. In the embodiment illustrated, wherein the mechanism is adopted for cutting seaming stitch chains extending from socks, the inner diameter of the air duct 62 is approximately 4" and the opening 64 is inclined at an angle of approximately 45 A cutter blade 66 is mounted in the slot formed by the channel 44 in the base plate 40 and the underside of the top plate 42. This blade 66, as shown, is formed with a cutting edge 68 at its forward end and reciprocates so that the cutting edge 68 passes beneath the air passage 58 in the top plate 42 in contact with the underside of the top plate 42 in a shearing action across the passage 58. The cutter blade 66 is maintained in contact with the top plate 42 by means of pins 70 mounted in holes 72 in the base plate 48 in line with the channel 44 therein, which are urged against the blade 66 by coil springs 79 also mounted in the holes 72.

To facilitate the cutting action of the blade 66 and provide a self-sharpening feature the cutting end 68 of the blade 66 is inclined downwardly and rearwardly and the blade 66 can be bent slightly upwardly (not illustrated) at the cutting end 68 to maintain shearing contact with the top plate 42.

The cutter blade 66 extends rearwardly from the base plate 40 and is reciprocated by means of a drive mechanism 76 of any conventional design. The particular mechanism, shown diagrammatically in the drawings for illustrative purposes only, includes an electric motor 78, a reduction gear assembly 80 that reduces the output of the motor to drive an eccentric 82, which in turn actuates a reciprocating connecting rod 84 attached to the rear end 86 of the cutting blade 66. In the preferred embodiment, the cutting blade drive mechanism 76 operates to reciprocate the blade 66 at approximately 700 rpm.

The means for creating a suction in the suction duct 62 and air passages 48, 58 of the cutting mechanism 12 of the present invention can be of any conventional construction. The particular suction mechanism 88 shown for illustrative purposes only comprises a suction pump 56 driven by an electric motor 96 that creates a suction drawing air through a trap 92, main tube 94, air hose S4, and air chamber 48, 58, 62 of the present cutting mechanism 12. The trap 92 serves to collect the ends of seaming stitch chains cut by the cutting blade 66 and drawn by suction through the air hose 54 and main tube 94. In a preferred embodiment the centrifugal pump 56 may be driven by a 5 horse power electric motor to create suction for a number of cutting mechanisms 12 on a bank of seaming machines, which may be connected by the main tube 94. The size of the motor can be varied and can be of substantially smaller horse power if it is to be used with a single seaming machine.

In the operation of a seaming machine 10 with the cutting mechanism 12 of the present invention attached thereto, the socks are fed on the work plate 32 over the needle plate 20 and under the presser foot 24. The needles 18 scam the socks and as the socks pass the needles 18 they are guided by a rear extension 96 of the presser foot 24 that extends rearwardly adjacent and above the opening 64 in the air duct 62. The socks are also guided by a dust shield 98 that is mounted rearwardly of the needle plate 20 and along the inner side of the cutting mechanism 12. The dust shield 98 is turned outwardly along its top 100 to extend slightly over the suction duct 62, and therefore this shield also guides the chain 34 over the opening 64 in the suction duct 62. When the socks are seamed, a seaming stitch chain of, for example, one-half inch, is formed between socks. This chain is a formation of loops which, when the chain is sucked into the air duct 62, are pulled out by the suction to the extent that the chain may be extended up to, for example, about three to four inches. This extension of the chain into the air duct 62 and air passage 48, 58 is suflicient for the chain to be drawn beyond the cutter blade 66, which cuts the chain and thereby separates the socks. The length of the chain left on the article after cutting is controlled by the length of the air duct 62 and air passage 48 in the top plate 42 above the cutter blade 66. In the preferred embodiment the total length of the air duct 62 and top plate air passage 48 is approximately /1" which is a suitable length for the chain left on the socks.

As a sock passes over the air duct opening 64 the chain 34 is pulled into the mechanism and is cut to leave a desired length of chain on the trailing edge of the seam on the sock. The chain cut from the sock remains in the mechanism as the following sock is being seamed and advances to the mechanism. The cutter blade 66 continues to cut the chain as the sock advances and feeds the chain into the mechanism, until the sock is at the air duct opening 64 at which point a A" chain remains on the sock in advance of the seam thereon. This leading length of chain is withdrawn as the sock passes away from the air duct opening 6a.

This pieces of chain cut off by the cutter blade are sucked through the hose 54 and collected in the trap 92, which is periodically cleaned.

The particular shape and location of the air duct 62 can be varied to obtain desired results and it is also possible to obtain satisfactory cutting with the air duct removed and using a flat top plate with the air opening in its surface at a selected location.

Although in the above-described preferred embodiment of the present invention the cutting means is in the form of a reciprocating cutter blade 66, it should be understood that any equivalent cutting means could be substituted therefor. Thus a revolving cutting disc or rotating cylin drical knife or other suitable cutting element could be used without deviating from the scope of the present invention.

The present invention has been described above in detail for purposes of illustration only, and is not intended to be limited by this description or otherwise, except as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A cutting mechanism for cutting seaming stitch chains or the like from articles comprising a body member having an air passage extending therethrough, said body member having a portion extending therefrom with an air duct therein with an inner opening communicating with said air passage and an outer opening spaced from said air passage, said outer opening being restricted in size to prevent the article from entering the air duct, suction means connected to one end of said air passage to create suction therethrough and to pull said seaming stitch chains or the like to be cut through said air duct and into said air passage, cutting means mounted in said body member across said air passage, said cutting means being operable to cut said chains or the like pulled into said passage at a length from said article determined by the spacing of said cutting means from the outer opening of the air duct in said extending portion.

2. A cutting mechanism for cutting seaming stitch chains or the like from articles comprising a base plate having a cutting blade channel formed in the surface thereof and an air passage extending therethrough and opening into said channel, a top plate mounted on said base plate over said channel, said top plate having an air passage extending therethrough, said top plate passage opening into said channel in alignment with the opening in the base plate air passage and opening on the outer surface of said top plate, a duct forming portion extending from said top plate with an air duct formed therein, said air duct being aligned with said top plate air passage to form an extension thereof and opening on the outer surface of said duct forming portion, said outer opening of the air duct being restricted in size to prevent the articles from entering the air duct, a cutting blade reciprocally mounted in said channel for movement across said channel opening 6 of the top plate air passage in a shearing action thereacross and spaced from the outer opening of said air duct, means for reciprocating said cutting blade across said inner end of the top plate air passage, means connected to said base plate air passage to create a suction to pull said seaming stitch chain or the like into said air duct outer opening and through the top plate air passage to said cutting blade for cutting of said chains or the like.

3. In a sewing machine of the type wherein a needle or needles reciprocate to form with other elements of the machine a seaming stitch chain that can extend beyond the articles being seamed, a cutting mechanism comprising a body member mounted on said machine rearwardly of said needle or needles and having a top surface over which the articles pass as they leave the needle or needles, said body member having an air passage extending therethrough with an opening in the top surface of said body member, said body member having an air duct forming portion mounted on said top surface of the body member and having an air duct therein communicating with said air passage opening, said air duct extending toward said needle or needles and opening adjacent said needle or needles, said needle adjacent opening of the air duct being restricted in size to prevent the articles from entering the air duct, suction means connected to the passage to create a suction in the air passage to pull the seaming stitch chains that extend from said articles into the air duct and air passage, cutting means mounted in said body member across said air passage and operable to cut the chains that are pulled into said air duct and air passage at points spaced from said articles.

4. In a sewing machine of the type having a needle or needles that reciprocate and form with other elements of the machine a seaming stitch chain, having a needle plate or other support adjacent the needle or needles on which an article is guided to the needle or needles, and having a presser foot above said needle plate to hold the article on the needle plate, said machine forming a stitch chain that can extend beyond the articles being seamed by the machine, a cutting mechanism comprising a body member mounted on said machine rearwardly of said needle plate and having a top surface over which the articles pass as they leave the needle plate and presser foot, said body member having an air passage extending therethrough and opening adjacent the presser foot, said air passage opening being restricted in size to prevent the articles from entering therein, suction means connected to the air passage to create a suction in the air passage to pull into the air passage the seaming stitch chains that extend beyond the articles, an extension formed on said presser foot and extending rearwardly to guide said articles and chains over said topsurface of the body member, cutting means mounted in said body member across said air passage and spaced from said air passage Opening and operable tocut the chains that are pulled into said air passage at points spaced from said articles.

5. In a sewing machine of the type wherein a needle or needles reciprocate to form with other elements of the machine a seaming stitch chain that can extend beyond the end of the articles being seamed by the machine, a cutting mechanism comprising a base plate mounted on said sewing machine rearwardly of said needle or needles, a topplate secured to said base plate and having a top surface over which the articles pass as they leave the needle or needles, said base plate having a cutting blade channel formed in its top surface under the top plate and having an air passage extending therethrough opening into said channel, said top plate having an air passage extending .therethrough opening into said channel and aligned with said base plate air passage opening and opening on the top surface of said top plate, a duct forming member mounted on said top plate over said top plate air passage opening and having an air duct therein forming an extension of said top plate air passage and extending to an opening adjacent said needle or needles, said needle adjacent opening being restricted in size to pre- .vent the articles from entering therein, a cutting blade reciprocally mounted in said channel for movement in a shearing action across said air passage and spaced from 2,356,378 lp g 1944 the needle adjacent opening of the air duct, means for 5 2579359 Vanadla 18, reciprocating said cutting blade across said air passage, 217121805 Peterson et a1 July 12, suction means connected to said base plate air passage to 2,824,436 Stack at 25, 1958 create a suction to pull the seaming stitch chains extend- 29081154 Butler ing from articles into the air duct and air passage to said cutting blade for cutting of said chains at points spaced l0 FOREIGN PATENTS from said articles. 772,913 Great Britain Apr. 17,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

